WHO 'rethinking' naming Robert Mugabe as goodwill ambassador
Source: The Guardian and agencies
WHO rethinking naming Robert Mugabe as goodwill ambassador
Decision will be re-evaluated after appointment of Zimbabwean despot provokes global anger
Ruth McKee and agencies
Saturday 21 October 2017 22.55 BST
The head of the World Health Organization has said he is rethinking his decision to name Zimbabwes president, Robert Mugabe, as a goodwill ambassador after the move provoked global outrage.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director general of the UN health agency, had this week asked Zimbabwes 93-year-old authoritarian leader to serve in the role to help tackle non-communicable diseases such as heart attacks, strokes and asthma across Africa.
The decision triggered confusion and anger among WHO member states and activists who noted that Zimbabwes health care system, like many of its public services, has collapsed under Mugabes regime.
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Tedros said he was honoured to announce that Mugabe had agreed to serve as a goodwill ambassador on non-communicable diseases for Africa. He hailed Zimbabwe as a country that places universal health coverage and health promotion at the centre of its policies to provide healthcare to all.
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Read more:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/21/un-lambasted-after-naming-mugabe-goodwill-ambassador